Heater Repair: Top 12 Heater Issues and Fixing How to Guide
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A good gas furnace repairing guide assists you in determining what is wrong with the heater based on its signs. That's what we do here with clear, simple details.
Troubleshooting Common Gas Heater Problems
Every year, thousands of Calgary homeowners ask, "What's wrong with my gas heater?" If you're in that circumstance, this guide will equip you with details before you call a heater company. Knowledge is security versus being benefited from-- though the majority of repair professionals have sound ethics.
Note: This guide covers the most common issues, specifically those most homeowners can quickly talk to no tools or basic tools such as screwdrivers and a multimeter.
1. The Heater Won't Start
If nothing happens when the thermostat is set above the house's present temperature level, the most likely causes are these:
- The heater switch (located on or near the furnace, appears like a common light switch) is shut off and simply requires to be switched on, though the heating system may have a brief hold-up prior to starting
- The circuit breaker is off, and if the circuit continues to journey after it is turned back on, there is likely an electrical wiring brief in the heating system
- The thermostat isn't set to "heat," which is simple to check and fix
- The thermostat isn't working, and this is sometimes caused by a wire coming loose, so inspect the wiring connections
- The thermostat requires fresh batteries, if battery-powered, or it is bad and should be replaced, a concern that can be identified utilizing an electrical multimeter that reveals if a circuit is total
- The heater's primary circuit board/control board is bad, a concern that can be detected by a HEATING AND COOLING technician is nothing else resolves the concern
2. Furnace Blowing Cold Air
If the furnace will not produce heat, you can examine to see if it is getting power by moving the fan switch from the "Automobile" position to the "On" position. If the fan comes on, then the heater is getting power. The likely issues then are:
- The gas is turned off, so examine the gas cock near the heater to make sure it is parallel to the gas line
- The gas control valve isn't opening and must be changed
- The ignitor is failing and need to be changed
- The draft motor isn't functioning or the fresh-air consumption is blocked, possibly by snow or debris, and requires to be cleared
3. The Draft Motor Runs, Heater Will Not Start
The draft motor is also called the inducer motor. It pulls hot combustion gases through the heater and out the exhaust stack. If it starts and then the heater shuts down, the cause might be:
- The motor or the board that manages it has failed and need to be replaced
- An obstructed air intake or blocked exhaust chimney (snow, particles and bird's nests prevail causes) must be cleared
- One of the issues discussed above with gas, gas valve and ignitor should be dealt with
4. The Draft Motor Will Not Start
The problem, in this case, is either that the motor is bad or the capacitor that supports it is bad. This video will assist you in troubleshooting draft motor problems and what is causing them.
5. The Flame Starts, however the Heating system Shuts Down
If the burner begins making heat however soon turns off without warming your home, the flame sensor isn't working. If the sensor has deterioration on it, sanding it may work, though changing it is a longer-lasting fix.
6. The Blower Won't Shut Off
If the blower motor runs all the time, there are 3 typical concerns:
- The fan turn on the thermostat is set to "on" instead of "auto".
- Relays in the control board are stuck in the closed position, so the blower is getting a constant supply of electrical power, and the control panel must be changed.
- The thermostat also has contacts that manage power to the heater, and they can be used, so the thermostat needs to be changed.
7. Why Does the Furnace Keep Shutting Off?
If your furnace burner lights but the furnace quickly shuts down, there are a couple of typical issues that might cause this:.
- The furnace filter is filthy and should be cleaned up or changed.
- The flame sensor isn't working and ought to be changed.
- The thermostat is failing.
- While these prevail, there are a number of other potential causes best detected by a furnace professional. This video offers extensive coverage to the problem of furnace short-cycling.
8. The Furnace Runs but Can't Keep the House Warm.
If your heater is appropriately sized for your house, then it should keep your house warm even in extreme cold. If it runs constantly but isn't supplying enough heat, the most likely causes are:.
- An unclean filter that should be washed (only if the washable type) or changed.
- The filter is the wrong type for your furnace and limits airflow, so need to be changed.
- The filter is set up in reverse, a problem that can be checked by trying to find the arrows on the filter frame that show proper setup direction with the flow of air.
- Air ducts are leaking, often producing obvious whistling sounds, and it is time to have them sealed as suggested by Energy Star.
9. The Heater Makes Loud Noises.
A loud heating system is usually the outcome of:.
- The furnace being a single-stage design that operates on high capacity all the time, so it's going to be loud.
- A bad bearing in the draft motor or the blower motor that should be replaced.
- A leak in the heating system cabinet, sheet metal plenum or ductwork near the heater that should be tightened up.
- A dirty filter, which can likewise trigger whistling.
10. The Furnace Leaks when A/C is Running.
11. The Air Coming from the Heater Smells Bad.
Foul odors from the furnace are typically triggered by:.
- A very dirty filter that must be washed, if washable, or changed.
- A dead rodent or bird someplace in the system, typically a job for an expert heating system professional.
12. The CO Display Going Off.
A carbon monoxide alarm should be taken seriously. Turn the heating system off at the thermostat. Don't go into the space where the heating system lies. Open doors and windows, and go outside. Call 911 from a cellular phone outside your home.
How to Select a Gas Heater Repair Professional.
Some property owners choose the least expensive repair service in Calgary, and the results are typically bad. Low-cost services are either simply starting, so do not have experience or they have a bad track record, so should give low-cost prices to get jobs.
On the other hand, some services are overpriced. The very best method to find quality furnace repair work at a fair cost is to get price quotes from several of the leading heating system repair work business in Calgary. Consult with each, learn about their history and the experience of the specialists that will do the work. Select an experienced furnace repair work professional with sensible rates.
- The filter is dirty and need to be changed or cleaned up, a problem that is especially real on newer heating systems that are equipped to shut down if the filter isn't permitting adequate air flow, a condition that can cause major mechanical failure
Water condenses on the evaporator coil in your heater, and if it leaks onto the flooring, the issue is more than likely a clogged up drain pan or drain line.